Over 17 lakh kanal state land, 3.85 lakh kanal forest land under encroachment in J&K: Govt

Srinagar, Oct 29: A day after the government rejected a bill moved by PDP legislator Waheed ur Rehman Parra seeking ownership rights for land occupants, it revealed in the Legislative Assembly that over 17 lakh kanal of state and Kahcharai land and around 3.85 lakh kanal (equivalent to 19,501 hectares) of forest land are under encroachment across Jammu and Kashmir. The government said that more than 14.27 lakh kanal of state land have been retrieved so far through sustained anti-encroachment drives.

In a written reply to a starred question (No. 656) raised by MLA Ranbir Singh Pathania, the government said that according to reports from the Divisional Commissioners of Jammu and Kashmir, land measuring 17,27,249 kanal and 15 marla has been encroached upon in the Union Territory. Of this, 14,27,841 kanal and 7.5 marla have been retrieved, while 2,99,407 kanal of land remains under illegal occupation.

The reply clarified that the revenue record does not contain details identifying encroachers by profession and therefore does not indicate whether any politicians, sitting or former legislators, ministers, or bureaucrats are among the illegal occupants.

As per the Custodian General of J&K, there are no encroachments on custodian land, while the Jammu Development Authority has informed that it does not maintain data on the professional background of encroachers.

The Forest Department reported that as on September 30, 2025, forest land measuring 19,501.87 hectares — roughly 3.85 lakh kanal — is under encroachment. The department said it has initiated a series of measures to retrieve the encroached land and to act against violators.

The government maintained that the removal of encroachments is an ongoing process being carried out by field functionaries of the concerned departments. The revenue authorities have conducted several anti-encroachment drives across districts, resulting in large-scale retrieval of encroached state and Kahcharai land.

The Forest Department has issued notices to encroachers under the Indian Forest Act, 1927, and has been conducting eviction drives to remove illegal occupations. It has also initiated proceedings against habitual forest land grabbers in coordination with the police and civil administration.

According to official data, 242 encroachments have been cleared this year, and 55 hectares of forest land have been retrieved. The Jammu Development Authority has also retrieved around 300 kanal of land since January 2025 through coordinated anti-encroachment efforts.

On reports of tampering with revenue records and fraudulent mutations, the government said that in the Rajouri district, four illegal mutations on state land were detected and cancelled, and the land was restored to the state. Two officials were penalised with the stoppage of two annual increments and the deduction of one month’s salary by order of the competent authority.

The government said that the process of retrieving illegally occupied land will continue across all districts, and departments concerned have been directed to ensure strict enforcement and to take firm action against habitual encroachers and those involved in record manipulation.